It香蕉视频直播檚 been nearly a year since Christa Akins was struck by an SUV while cycling down Cawston Avenue香蕉视频直播檚 multi-use pathway.

香蕉视频直播淚 was on my way home and a green SUV turned out of the alley and hit me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淣ow I香蕉视频直播檓 paralyzed and in a wheelchair香蕉视频直播� in five weeks it will be a year since I香蕉视频直播檝e walked.香蕉视频直播�

Akins was always active. She was featured in a cycling magazine and had completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer in Seattle before the July 5, 2017 incident that left her without use of her legs and she香蕉视频直播檚 determined to walk again, spinal injury or not.

To build the strength needed to reach that goal, she said, Kelowna General Hospital香蕉视频直播檚 therapeutic pool has been indispensable.

香蕉视频直播淭he pool deck comes up and I香蕉视频直播檓 able to transfer from my wheelchair to a chair香蕉视频直播� then the pool floor goes down to a level and I can challenge myself to walk,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding that the temperature is 35 C, warm enough to stop her muscles from seizing.

If the water level is chest height, she can walk. If it drops an inch below her chest, 香蕉视频直播済ravity sets in香蕉视频直播� and she buckles, as she would on land.

香蕉视频直播淚t really gives me hope. It keeps my brain engaged and my muscles working,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 can do things in the water that I can not do out of the water.香蕉视频直播�

That hope, however, may be taken away.

Kelowna General Hospital is limiting use of the therapeutic pool香蕉视频直播攚hich has already been closed for months香蕉视频直播攖o those who are in line for or recently recovering from joint replacement surgeries of varying kinds.

香蕉视频直播淭heir excuse is that the community took up so much pool space that there香蕉视频直播檚 no longer space for inpatients to use the pool,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚n the 11 months I香蕉视频直播檝e used it I香蕉视频直播檝e not once waited. It was not once overfilled. Another woman who has used it for 30 years was not once turned away for too much use.香蕉视频直播�

That said, an acquaintance of Akin香蕉视频直播檚 pays for a membership at the Y to use the pool for therapeutic purposes and she香蕉视频直播檚 been turned away due to capacity issues a number of times.

香蕉视频直播淚 need medical support, I don香蕉视频直播檛 need to play in the water,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a pool therapist at the pool that help with floats and exercises 香蕉视频直播� you don香蕉视频直播檛 have that in a public pool.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 not just patients who are paralyzed who are feeling the loss.

香蕉视频直播淭here are people who have ALS 香蕉视频直播� There is one lady who was walking with a cane and since the pool closed, she香蕉视频直播檚 back in a wheelchair,香蕉视频直播� said Akins.

香蕉视频直播淎nother guy has said he was down to 10 pain pills a day with pool use, and since it香蕉视频直播檚 been closed he香蕉视频直播檚 back up to 19香蕉视频直播� the medication is a bandaid and the pool is a solution.香蕉视频直播�

Lova Hope Witiak wrote the Capital News this week and said since she香蕉视频直播檚 lost access to the pool she香蕉视频直播檚 suffered greatly.

香蕉视频直播淚 have had two hip replacements, sustained two fractures, as well as two arthritic knees and spine. This exercise facility has given me better enjoyment of old age at 77 years old,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 cannot walk without my walker. Can anyone convince the Kelowna General Hospital rehab pool to reconsider cutting services to seniors with limited mobility so we can enjoy our golden years with less pain?香蕉视频直播�

Akins said it should be a no brainer.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a community funded pool paid by our health dollars that all working people pay into,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t should be used by people who feel better using it.香蕉视频直播�

On Saturday Akins started a petition and it香蕉视频直播檚 already garnered 100 signatures. In a week, she香蕉视频直播檚 going to bring them to meetings she香蕉视频直播檚 set up with the mayor, MLAs and onward.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not right,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are a lot of people who are suffering that have no way of getting into another pool without handrails or parallel bars. It needs to change.香蕉视频直播�

To learn more about her petition, contact Akins at positivedifference@shaw.ca.

Interior Health has yet to respond to questions.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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